Vacation

But Kate was smart.

Instead: “Something hurt them and not the others. I guess scientists are working on it, right?”

“Yeah, they sure are.”

And on all the other things that have happened to the planet.

“They look scary.”

Another nod. “Yeah. But look at those pines ahead. Big, hm? And the mountains.”

“The mountains are cool!” Simon said, leaning forward to get a better look at the peaks ahead. “Are we going up there?”

Christie turned around. “We go up a little ways. Paterville is on a hill surrounded by mountains.”

“Wow. Wish we could go to the top of one.”

“Maybe we could drive up,” Jack said, unaware if he could even make good on that offer.

Everyone grew quiet, looking at the mountains, distracted from the great stands of dead trees that alternated with the still-towering pines.

*   *   *

Christie kept looking at the mountains.

Except for bare patches, they looked ancient, untouched by time. For the first time since they left home, she felt that they were indeed “away.”

That was the whole point, wasn’t it? To get the kids away, Jack away … her. To leave what had become their daily life with its fears, its walls—what for her felt like a belt, tightening more every day.

Looking at the mountains, she felt something that she recognized was different. Freedom, hope, the idea of possibilities.

Then Kate’s voice snapped her out of her mental wandering among the peaks that, though obviously closer, still were so far away.

“Hey, is this near the camp? Looks weird here.”

“You never saw real mountains before,” Christie said.

“Hey—” Jack said.

Christie faced forward.

“There we go. Our exit, three miles ahead.”

Exit, Christie thought. Getting off the Northway.

Onto the smaller roads. The smaller towns.

“Good,” she said.

Not at all sure she meant it.

*   *   *

Jack slowed, hitting a series of severe speed bumps that signaled the way to the exit checkpoint.

Always checkpoints.

Christie read the bold signs, the letters big.

ATTENTION: YOU ARE NOW LEAVING THE EMERGENCY HIGHWAY AUTHORITY’S PROTECTION PLEASE HAVE YOUR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS READY TO SHOW THE OFFICER ON DUTY

Then, after another speed bump that had the kids laughing from the carnival ride effect, another sign:

BE PREPARED TO HAVE YOUR VEHICLE EXAMINED BY THE SAFETY OFFICER YOU WILL BE GIVEN CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS AT THAT TIME

Road conditions. As if there was snow, branches down, flooding. The conditions the sign referred to had nothing to down with weather.

Another bump.

Christie scanned the booth ahead. A real metal barrier instead of a simple wooden bar to block cars. Guess the locals might be concerned about New York City riffraff sneaking into their pure, clean mountains. One guard in a booth and another standing to the side with a gun on his shoulder, his eyes locked on the car, scanning it.

Jack pulled up to the booth, opened the window, and looked up at the guard.

A nod and a smile, but the middle-aged man didn’t smile back. Could be he was a veteran. There were stories that the Highway Authority had been hiring vets. It took the pressure off the suddenly unemployed combat soldiers in a changed world.

More important, they could keep their cool and knew their way around automatic weapons.

This one didn’t look too happy.

Uniform unkempt. A stray stain here and there. Needed a shave. Squinting, narrow eyes in the late afternoon, but open enough so Jack could see they were bloodshot.

“Papers.” The guard said it as if measuring out exactly how many words he could use.

Christie passed the papers from the glove compartment.

Jack handed them over.

“Paterville,” the guard said. Jack caught the guard looking over to his partner.

“Yeah,” Jack said.

This time, Jack didn’t engage in any of the small talk. None of the I hear it’s nice … or never been there.

The guard looked over the papers.

Then:

“Got to check your vehicle. Mind stepping out?”

Stepping out? Jack had read nothing about that. He looked at the guard again—the messy uniform, the grizzled face. Had he read the guy right? Someone who didn’t care?

Then the guard added: “Just gotta check your safety precautions. Before we update you on the rest of your trip.”

“Okay.”

A quick glance at Christie. Nothing needed to be spoken.

Jack popped open the door. As he shut it, he heard Christie lock it behind him.

He walked alongside the guard as he looked over the modifications on the Explorer.

The guard turned to Jack. “Double-walled spun-steel hybrid tires?”

“Yup.”

“Set you back a pretty penny.” The guard knelt down. “And these things?” He tapped the metal plates in front and rear of each tire. “Good thinking there.”

The guard didn’t get up. Jack wondered: Does he do an inspection like this with every vehicle that leaves the highway?

Maybe it’s time to flash the badge.

“But I got to tell you. Even these tires can be brought down.”

“Not by a bullet.”

“Oh, right. Sure. Not a single bullet. But you ever see those road chains? Two-, three-inch metal spikes, dozens of them on a chain? Could do real damage to even these tires.”

“Let’s hope I don’t run into any of them.”

The guard nodded and stood up, the effort of standing revealing that exercise wasn’t on his weekly agenda.

“You never know.”

The guard continued around to the front of the car. He smiled at the kids.

Or maybe it was a leer at Christie. With his face, it was hard to tell.

“Good front grill protection, and I imagine the body is all—”

“Reinforced steel. Special plate glass. Look, this gonna take much longer?”

The guard cocked his head.

“You in a rush? I’m just trying to do my job, Mr.—” he looked down at the papers “—Murphy. Just making sure you’re in good shape to head … up there.”